Washing implement



April 4, 1961 E. L.-HO'PK|NS WASHING IMPLEMENT Filed March 6, 1959INVENTOR EVAN L. HOPKINS 2,977,625 WASHING IMPLEMENT Evan L. Hopkins,Emporia, Kans., assignor to Hopkins ManufacturingCorporation, Emporia,Kans., a corporation of Kansas Filed Mar. '6, 1959, Ser. No. 797,747 4Claims. c1. 15-567) This invention relates 'to washing implements andmore particularly to portable, hand-operated washing implements whichdispense a stream of washing fluid onto the surface of the article to bewashed.

The washing of all exposed surfaces of automobiles and similar large,irregularly shaped structures is attended by considerable difliculty. Inan attempt to alleviate this difficulty, various washing irnplementshave heretofore been developed, some of which have embodied means tosupply a stream of washing fluid to the surface to be washed. Ingeneral, the heretoforeknown implemen'ts have been Characterized by oneor 'more'disadvantag es such as undue complexity,-excessive Weight andex-' pense of manufacture, ditfieulty of operation, in accessibilitytocertain parts of the work, inadequate control of thelfluid supplythereby wasting water and causing the operator and bystanders to-be hitby spray, and failure to supply water to all areas Where needed.

To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, it is an object of thisinvention to provide a portable, handoperated washing implement which isinexpensive to manufacture, highly effective, small in size, light inweight, simple to operate, and capable of supplying a controlled flow ofwashing fluid to relatively inaccessible parts o'fthe article to bewashed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an implement whichincludes a soft, fluid permeableresilient Washing head, substantiallyall of the outer surface of which is exposed and through which surfacewashing fluid mm I able washing head comprising a resilient sponge;Means are provided to conduct fluid into the sponge, such meansincluding a valve body embedded in the sponge and an inlet extendingthrough a small opening in the rear face of the washing head forconnection to a-source of wash ing fluid under pressure. The valve bodyis provided with .a fluid outlet into the interior of the sponge and aninwardly facingvalve seat associated with such outlet A valve isprovided which is cooperable with the valve seat to control the flowotfluid through the outlet into the sponge. Connected to the valve andextending through the outlet is a valve stem which is movablelongitudinally and tiltably in the outlet to unseat the valve by inwardlongitudinal movement or tilting of the valve stem. At the outer end ofthe valve stem is an acuating portion which is also embedded in thesponge at a location spaced outwardly from the valve body. The spongeclosely grips the embedded valve body and actuating portion with theactuating portion being normally retained in extended position with thevalve closed. The rear surface of the 2371,25 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 ICCwashing head is substantially larger than the opening through which thefluid conducting means extends and the entire outer surface of theWashing head outside of such opening is soft, compressible and exposedso that the surface of the washing head may be pressed against an objectto be Washed from any direction to distort the sponge and move theactuating portion to open the valve,

The invention having been generally described, a pre- 'ferred specificembodiment will now be set forth in'detail with vreference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a washing implement according to theinvention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the detailsofconstruction of the washing head and the valve body; and' I 'Figure 3is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken in the directionof the arrows along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Shown in perspective in Figure 1 is a portable, handoperated, washingimplement designated generally by the synthetic spongemade of rubber,plastic material or the like which is charatcerized by the generalproperties of natural sponge.

Embedded in the sponge 12 is a valve body 13, the rear end of whichextends through a small opening 14 in the rear surface of the Washinghead 12. Atfixed to the protruding portion of the valve body 13, as by athreaded connection, is an elongated rigid handle 15. The handle 15comprises a metal tube 16 of aluminum or other suitable material encasedin a flexible, exterior sheet 17 preferably of rubber or plasticmaterial. A fitting 18 is fixed 'tothe end of the handle 15 opposite thewashing head to facilitate connection of the implement to a source ofWater .or other washing fluid under pressure by means of hose 19. Thewashing fluid is conducted through the hollow handle 15 intothe valvebody 13 and subsequently through the sponge as hereinafter described.The fitting 18 includes --a bracket 21 by which the implement may behung from a suitable connection for purposes of storage. The end of thevalve body 13 which is embedded in the sponge is reduced indiameter toform an outlet 22 which connects the interior of the valve body with theinterior of the sponge. At the juncture of the reduced diameter outlet22 with the main portion of the valve body 13 is a shoulder whichprovides an inwardly facing, annular valve seat 23 surrounding theoutlet 22. Cooperable With the valve seat 23 is a valve 24 which isoperable to selectively open and close the outlet 22 thereby controllingthe flow of fluid from the valve body into the sponge. Connected to thevalve 24 is a valve stem 25 which extends through the outlet 22. Thestem 25 is substantially smaller in diameter than the outlet 22 and thusis longitudinally movable and tiltable therein. Any tilting or inwardlongitudinal movement of the stem 25 results in the opening of thevalve.

At the juncture of the valve 24 and the stem 25 is an annular shoulder26 which extends into the outlet 22 when the valve is closed and istapered radially inwardly from the valve toward the outer end of thevalve stem. The purpose of the tapered shoulder 26 is to form a flowcontrol means in the outlet whereby the rate of fluid flow past theshoulder through the outlet is relatively 'small when the valve isbarely open and is increased as the valve stem is moved inwardly toope'nthe valve to a greater degree. r

Connected to the outer end of the valve stem 25 is an actuating member'27 which may be a simple bar, as

shown in the drawings, extending in diametrically opposite directionslaterally outwardly from the stem 25. Alternatively, a plurality of barsmay be provided extending in various radial directions from the valvestem. Still further, a disc could be substituted for the bar 27. Aplurality of bars or a disc would be especially advantageous where arelatively wide sponge is employed. It can be seen that the sponge 12,shown in the drawings, is relatively long and narrow, therebyfacilitating the use of a single bar 27.

The bar 27 is embedded in the sponge at a location space'd outwardlyfrom the valve body 13. The spacing between the bar 27 and the valvebody 13 preferably should be not materially greater than the spacingnecessary to prevent material interference by the valve body 13 with thetilting of the bar 27 in order that a substantial tilting of the valve24 is effected when the bar 27 is tilted.

The sponge closely grips the valve body and the actuating member 27 andtends to urge the bar toward extended position to retain the valve inclosed position.

- Further, the valve is normally retained in closed position by thepressure of the washing fluid in the valve body. Accordingly, no springsor other devices are necessary to urge the valve toward closed position.It can be seen that any tilting or inward movement of the actuatingmember 27 against the force of the washing fluid results in acorresponding tilting or inward movement of the valve stem to unseat thevalve thereby releasing washing fluid from the interior of the valvebody into the interior of the sponge. Since the sponge is fluidpermeable, such fluid will be emitted from all of the exposed spongesurfaces.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the back surface 28 of the washing head12 is substantially larger in area than the opening 14, and issubstantially entirely exposed to the atmosphere. Moreover, the entireouter surface of the washing head, including the back surface 28 outsideof the opening 14, is soft, compressible and exposed so that any portionof the washing head surface may-be pressed against the object to bewashed from any direction to distort the sponge and move the actuatingportion thereby opening the valve. Whether the washing head is pressedagainst the surface to be washed from the front, from the side or fromthe rear, the distortion of the spbnge will cause movement of theactuating portion 27 thereby opening the valve to release the washingfluid.

The valve body 13, the valve 24, the stem 25 and the actuating member 27may be constructed of any suitable material, but preferably are formedof an organic polymeric material. Examples of satisfactory materials arepolymers of ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetatebutyrate, ethylene, methylene, propylene, styrene, methylmethacrylate,vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile, phenol formaldehyde and ureaformaldehyde.

The valve assembly and sponge may be fabricated in various ways. Where amolded, synthetic sponge is employed the sponge may be molded directlyaround the valve assembly. Alternatively, the sponge may be molded apartfrom the valve assembly with appropriate recesses being formed in thesponge to accommodate the valve assembly. A narrow slit 29 is alsoformed in the sponge to extend from the front face 31 to the valveassembly recess. When the sponge has hardened, the slit 29 is spread topermit insertion of the valve body. After the latter is properlypositioned in the sponge, the walls 33 and 34 of the slit are cementedtogether.

With the valve assembly embedded in the sponge in the manner described,a relatively small portion of the fluid conducting means protrudesthrough the rear of the sponge, thereby leaving substantially all of theback surface of the sponge soft, compressible and exposed. Accordingly,the sponge can be pressed against the surface to be washed from the rearand sides as well as from the front to release the washing fluid.Further, with the valve body embedded in the sponge, the spacing betweenthe bar 27 and the valve 24 may be maintained relatively small therebypermitting the valve to be tilted by a relatively small tilting of thebar 27. Moreover, with this construction, the natural resilience of thesponge tends to urge the actuating member to extended position to retainthe valve closed thereby preventing leakage when the water is firstconnected to the implement.

There has been illustrated and described what is considered to be apreferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however,that many modifications may be persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as determined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A portable, hand-operated washing implement which comprises a fluidpermeable washing head comprising a resilient sponge, means to conductfluid into said sponge including a valve body embedded in said sponge,said means extending through a small opening in the rear face of saidwashing head for connection to a source of washing fluid under pressure,said valve body having a fluid outlet into the interior of said spongeand an inwardly facing valve seat associated with said outlet, a valvecooperable with said valve seat to control the flow of fluid throughsaid outlet, and means including a valve stem connected to said valveand extending through said outlet, said valve stem being movablelongitudinally and tiltably in said outlet to unseat said valve byinward longitudinal movement or tilting of said valve stem, said lastnamed means including an actuating portion secured to said valve stemand embedded in said sponge at a location spaced outwardly from saidvalve body, said actuating portion extending in a plurality ofdirections laterally outwardly from said valve stem, said sponge closelygripping the embedded valve body and actuating portion with saidactuating portion being normally retained in extended position with thevalve closed, the rear surface of said washing head being susbtantiallylarger than the opening through which said fluid conducting meansextends, and the entire outer surface of said washing head includingsaid rear surface outside of said opening being soft, compressible andexposed so that any portion of said surface of said washing head may bepressed against an object to be washed from any direction to distortsaid sponge and move said actuating portion to open the valve.

2. An implement according to claim 1 wherein a shoulder is provided atthe juncture of said valve and valve stem, said shoulder extending intosaid outlet when the valve is closed and being tapered radially inwardlyfrom said valve toward the outer end of said valve stem whereby the rateof fluid flow past said shoulder through said outlet is increased as thevalve stem is moved inwardly.

3. A portable, hand-operated washing implement which comprises a fluidpermeable washing head comprising a resilient sponge, means to conductfluid into said sponge including a valve body embedded in said sponge,said means extending through a small opening in the rear face of saidwashing head, an elongated tubular rigid handle member to connect saidfluid conducting means to a source of washing fluid under pressure, saidvalve body having a fluid outlet into the interior of said sponge and aninwardly facing valve seat associated with said outlet, a valvecooperable with said valve seat to control the flow of fluid throughsaid outlet, a valve stem connected to said valve and extending throughsaid outlet, said valve stem being movable longitudinally and tiltablyin said outlet to unseat said valve by inward longitudinal movement ortilting of said valve stem, and an actuating member connected to theouter end of said valve stem and extending laterally therefrom in aplurality of directions, said sponge closely gripping the embedded valvebody and actuating member with said actuating member being normallyretained in extended position with the valve closed solely by saidsponge and by fluid pressure acting against said valve, the rear surfaceof said washing head being, substantially larger than the diameter ofsaid handle and the opening through which said fluid conducting meansextends, and the entire outer surface of said washing head includingsaid rear surface outside of said opening being soft, compressible andexposed so that any portion of said washing head surface may be pressedagainst an object to be washed from any direction to distort said spongeand move said actuating member to open the valve.

4. An implement according to claim 3 wherein a shoulder is provided atthe juncture of said valve and valve stem, said shoulder extending intosaid outlet when the valve is closed and being tapered radially inwardlyfrom said valve toward the outer end of said valve stem Whereby the rateof fluid fiow past said shoulder through said outlet is increased as thevalve stem is moved inwardly.

References Cited in the fiie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,407,030 Heine Feb. 21, 1922 1,829,287 -Lovett Oct. 27, 1931 2,180,506Burbig Nov. 21, 1939 2,373,050 Penick Apr. 3, 1945 2,814,817

Ducker Dec. 3, 1957

